By Mark Lassiter

On August 19, I wrote in these pages– Float Like a Butterfly: It’s Time for Obama to Recall Ali –that, “In the face of mounting attacks by conservatives, it may be time for President Barack Obama and those who organized to get him elected to take a page from the Ali playbook.”

The President’s luncheon meeting with the House Republican Conference in Baltimore last Friday offered proof that the art Ali demonstrated in the boxing ring at the pinnacle of his career can also shine brightly in a different kind of arena.

Ali and “Big Cat”

When Muhammad Ali met Cleveland Williams in the Astrodome in 1966, the seventh defense of his heavyweight title was his brightest moment in the ring. The fight in Houston was Ali’s first in this country after his famous, “I ain’t got no quarrel with no Viet Congs” remark. The backlash from that memorable comment earned Ali more enemies among the national press and among politicians who were eager to see him fail.

The hometown favorite, Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams, was cheered loudly from the introductions in front of 35,460 paying customers at the newly-opened “eighth wonder of the world,” The Houston Astrodome. When Ali entered the ring, the boos rained down from the cheap seats high above the revolutionary and synthetic AstroTurf playing surface.

Williams, an old school role model for “thug life,” had a .357 magnum slug lodged in his body that was donated by a Texas State Trooper during an altercation. He also sported a

fashionable (“how you gonna get respect, if you haven’t cut yo’ process yet?”) process. Williams also was a dangerous knockout artist who compared favorably to the menacing Sonny Liston. “Big Cat” dropped 51 of 71 opponents with his explosive power in both hands. His manager declared, “The Cat will take care of Clay in three.” Ali had 21 knockouts out of 26 pro fights.

The 1966 title fight would not be a polite affair.

Meanwhile, Last Friday in Baltimore

President Obama stepped into the ring with 141 members at the GOP Conference, which has effectively opposed nearly every move the President has made.

And the cameras caught every round.

Responding to a long and winding question from Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, that blamed Obama for the increase in the federal deficit, the president shot back, “the whole question was structured as a political talking point for running a campaign…”

When challenged on the employment figures Obama was succinct and direct, “We lost 650 thousand jobs in December…700 thousand in January, the month I was sworn in… and 650 thousand jobs in February before any of my policies had gone into effect…” He continued with, “The job losses proved to be much more severe than anyone anticipated. We can score political points but those job losses took place before ANY stimulus…”

Obama not only listened, he illuminated the facts. No matter what the subject – he bettered them. They couldn’t even remember their own questions – they had to write them down. Obama had no notes. Not only did he tell them about his bills, he knew theirs better than they did. He told them why their superficial suggestions would not work. As The Huffington Post reported, “Obama Goes to GOP Lion’s Den…and Mauls the Lions.”

Meanwhile, Back In Houston

Big Cat started round two trying to follow the words of his manager to jab at Ali. Unfortunately, for Williams, that strategy was much easier outlined than followed. By the time Big Cat loaded up, Ali has moved into another dimension of time and space. Whenever Williams landed a single blow, Ali was answering with precision combinations, while floating on the balls of his feet. And then it happened.

Not content to respond from a defensive posture, Ali was suddenly focused on his offense and flashed a high-speed, five-step, in-place dance maneuver he called “the Ali Shuffle.” The champion landed a two punch combination, left and then a right, to Williams’s temple. Time stopped, Big Cat hung in midair momentarily, and then fell to the canvas.

At the count of six, Williams was back on his feet, but shaken. In the words of Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan, until they get hit.” A barrage of Ali lefts and rights sent Williams spinning to the canvas again. This time he was up at five, but referee Kessler kept tolling the mandatory count of eight.

Williams collected what was left of his senses and tried to go the only way he had ever learned to go – forward – only to absorb an Ali left and right. Big Cat collapsed in a heap like a puppet who had had his strings cut.

It was over at 1:08 of the third round.

Meanwhile, Back In Baltimore

Obama was relaxed and skillfully turned most of the Republican’s arguments against them, especially the hypocrisy behind the stimulus and health care reform. When he called them out for showing up at ribbon-cutting ceremonies at projects funded by the stimulus they voted against, I did a Danny Thomas spit-take.

The odds were 141 to 1, but the bout was lopsided from the start as Republican talking points only fueled Obama’s passionate and fact-based retorts. The judges at ringside had it as a unanimous decision.

Even Fox News, like an overprotective cornerman trying to shield his fighter, threw in the proverbial towel and bailed on coverage of the unusual and open question-and-answer period as President Obama continued for another 20 minutes. Not surprisingly, it aired the Republican rebuttal to the session in its entirety.

One Republican admitted afterwards it was a mistake to allow the hour-and-a-half question and answer period. No kidding.

“So all I’m saying is,” the President said smoothly as the GOP faithful listened in stunned silence, “we’ve got to close the gap a little bit between the rhetoric and the reality. I’m not suggesting that we’re going to agree on everything, whether it’s on health care or energy or what have you, but if the way these issues are being presented by the Republicans is that this is some wild-eyed plot to impose huge government in every aspect of our lives, what happens is you guys then don’t have a lot of room to negotiate with me.”

As the question and answer period was about to close, he invited one additional question and added, “I’m having fun.”

“Rumble young man rumble!”

Mark Lassiter watched Muhammad Ali in Boston from ringside in 1976.